Indicator



J. J. REID.

INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED HAY23,1921.

1,396,383. Patented Noy. s, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 MIIIIIIIMJLAZ? 3mm 'Ja/zzas J/Pe d ZMWW J. J. REID.

mmcnon.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, I921.

Patented Nov.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

9% WM a Z 5 WAG 5W 4 5 mm 0 I W m m a 0 F n9 J 1 w .1 J z a z 5 a 6 M g W 1 3 z 1,, m A D 5 7 W y/ M// T v fl 0 l l H 2 o H WM I. J. REID.

INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, I921- 1,396,383, Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wumtw James J/Fez'd Aw W1 PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. REID, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Application filed May 23, 1921. Serial No. 471,772.

To all whom it may concern.

Be itknown that I, JAMES J. REID, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of Saint Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in station or street indicators for use on steam or street railway cars and has as one of its objects to provide an indicator mechanism which may be controlled by a member of the car crew so as to indicate to the passengers the names of streets or stations being approached.

Another object of the invenion is to so construct the indicator mechanism that the display band thereof may be readily removed whenever required and another band substituted therefor in the event a car equipped with the indicator is required to travel over different routes from time to time.

Another object of the inventionis to provide means for locking the indicator at a set position until intentionally set in operation to change the name of the street or station to be indicated, so that the display band cannot become accidentally advanced to either obscure the name to be displayed thereby or to display a name other than the one intended.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the indicator embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on a plane through the upper portion 01 the mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig is an end elevation of the mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a vertical front to rear sectional view taken substantially 011 the line 55 of Fig. 2, looking in the direct-ion indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation otthe mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the members shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electric circuits establshed in connection with the mechan sm;

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical view taken substantially on the line 1010 of Fig. 3.

The mechanism embodying the invention is partly mounted within and partly without a casing which is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and which may be of sheet metal, wood, or any other material suitable for the purpose and mounted in any convenient manner and this casing includes :i top 2, a bottom 3, end walls 4 and 5, a rear wall or back 6, and a front 7 which may be hinged, as for example at its upper edge as at 8, so as to adapt it to be swung to open position and expose the portion of the mechanism which is housed within the casing. The front 7 is provided with a sight opening 9 within which may be arranged a transparent pane of glass or any ether suitable material and through which to be displayed the traveling display band of the mechanism which band is indicated in general by the numeral 11 and bears street or. station names arranged in suitable spa ed relation in a series longitudinal thereof and adapted to be successively brought opposite the sight opening 9 as travel is imparted to the band. In order that when conditions demand the band may be illinninated, one or more electric light bulbs 12 may be ar ranged within the casing upon the back wall 6 thereof and opposite the sight opening 9.

A display band 11 is wound and stored upon two spools which are indicated in general by the numeral 13 and which are arranged within the rear portion of the casing 1, one adjacent the top of the casing andthe other adjacent the bottom thereof. Each of these spools 13 comprises a core or barrel 14 provided at its opposite ends with heads 15 and 16. The heads 15 are recessed in their outer end faces, as at 17, and have seated within their recesses bushings 18 having cylindrical sockets 19 receiving the ends of stub shafts which are indicated in general by the numeral 20 and one of which is most clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the'drawings. The shafts 20 are mounted through openings in the end wall 4 of the casing 1 and are afforded additional support by bearsupport the ends of the spools which are next adjacent the said end wall 4 of the casing. Each shaft is formed or pro vided at its outer end with a head 22 designed to abut against the outer face of the wall 4 when the shaft is fitted through the a wall and through the respective collar 21,

and this head 22 is provided with a finger piece 23 adapting it to be grasped for the V :auraose of insertin and withdrawin the .l l r: e

shaft. Each head 22 is further formed with an arm 24 which extends radially with re lation to the axis of the respective shaft and is providedin one edge with a notch indicated by the numeral 25. 'A threaded stud 26 is suitably permanently anchored either in the casing wall 4 or in this wall and a portion of the collar 21 and is so spaced with relation to theopening through which the respective shaft 20 is fitted that when the shaft has been inserted into place and is rotatably adjusted to a predetermined position, the stud 26. will project through the slot 25. Awing nut 27 is threaded onto the stud 26 and may be tightened to bear against the arm 24 of the respective shaft 20. In this manner the shafts may be secured in place and firmly braced. and yet when it becomes necessary to remove the spools 13 for the purpose of substituting one display band for another, this maybe readily accomplished by loosening the wing nuts 27, rot-ating the shafts 20 to disengage the arms 24 from the studs 26, and then withdrawingthe shafts.

Fitted to the outer face of the head 16 of each spool 13 is a cap plate 28 provided with a cylindrical bearing socket 29 and a flange 29 which circumscribes the periphery of the respective head. Gears 30 are provided in connection with the two spools 13 and each gear includes a hub-31 having its inner end of cylindrical form to fit rotatably in the respective socket 29. Each hub 31 is formed with a circumferential "series of notches 31 constituting a ratchet, and spring-pressed pawls 32 are mounted upon the plates 28 of the respective spools and by coaction with the respective'ratchets serve to connect the spools and gears for rotation in unison in one direction and permit their independent rotation in an opposite direction. The hub 31 of each gear is further formed with a cylindrical socket 33 which receives a stubshaft 34 carried by an attaching base or bracket 35 supported upon the inner face of the wall 5 of the casing; The shafts 34 are in alinement with the respective shafts 20 and it will be understood that the gears will also be understood that the heads 16 of the spools are readily separable from the hubs of the respective gears 30 after the shafts 2O havebeen withdrawn, and in order to maintain the gears 30 assembled with their respective shaft 34', suitable brackets .36 are secured upon the inner face of the rear wall 6 of the casing and project forwardly beside the inwardly presented faces of the said gears 30 at the peripheral por 'tions thereof, asbest shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.- It will be evident from the fore going that when the spools 13 are correspondingly rotated in one direction the display band 11 will be wound upon one of the spools and unwound from the other and thus caused to travel past the sight opening 9, and when the direction of rotation of the spools is reversed the band will be caused to travel past the said sight opening in the reverse direction, and in order that the spools may be so rotated as to successively display the street or station names upon the band, means is provided which will now be described.

A hearing 37 is mounted within an opening in the end wall 5 of the casing midway between the stub shafts ,34, and rotatably supported within the bearing 37 is'a short shaft 38 having one end projecting beyond the outer end of the bearing and exteriorly ofthe casing to support a bevel gear 39 keyed or otherwise secured, as at 40, thereto. Theopposite end of the shaft 33 projects beyond the inner end of the bearing 37 and into the casing and is squared, as at 41, and has fitted thereon a pinion 42, this pinion heing'retained in place by means of a collar 43 fitted onto the said end of the shaft 38 and secured by a set screw 44. The hub of the pinion 42 is rectangular so as to fit the squared portion 41 of the shaft and thus the pinion is fixed for rotation with the said shaft. The said pinion 42 meshes with both gears 30 and consequently when the shaft 38 is rotated, the gears 30 will be correspondingly rotated for the purpose previously explained.

Means is provided for coaction with the bevel gears 39 to selectively impart rotary motion to the shaft 38 in one direction or the other and thismeans embodies a shaft 45 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearing'brackets 46 upon the exterior of the wall 5 of the casing and which is squared, as at 47, throughout a portion of .its length and hasfitted slidably onto its squared portion spaced bevel gears 48 and 49. An electric motor is likewise mounted upon the ex erior of the wall 5 of the casing and is coupled, as at 51, with the forward end of the shaft and in this manner the shaft may be driven as also the gears 48 and 49 carried thereby, and it will be evident that when one of the. gears, as for example the gear 48 is shifted upon the shaft 45 into mesh with the gear 39, the pinion 42 will be rotated to rotate the spools 13 in one direction, and when the other gear 49 is shifted upon the shaft 45 into mesh with the said gear 39 the spools will be rotated in a reverse direction and in order thatthe gears 48 and 49 may be selectively brought into mesh with the gear 39 or shifted to such position that neither will be in mesh with the said gear 39, a shift rod 52 is slidably mounted in the bearing brackets 46 and carries yokes 53 and 54 of the usual construction which are engaged with the gears 48 and 49 respectively, the yokes being secured in any suitable manner upon the rod 52. A hand lever 55 is pivotally mounted for rocking movement, as at 56, upon the wall 5 of the casing and has pin and slot connection, as at 57, at its upper end, with the forward end of the rod 52. The lever 55 constitutes means whereby the rod 52 may be slidably shifted in the bearing brackets 56 so as to selectively bring the gears 48 and 49 into mesh with the gear 39 to position the said gears 48 and 49 so that neither will be in mesh with the gear 39, and in. order that the rod 52 may be held in its positions of adjustment, the lever 55 has a hand pawl 58 pivotally mounted upon its lower end portion and slidably held by a spring 59 in position for engagement with a rack 60 which is fixed upon the outer face of the wall 5 of the casing.

In order that the display band 11 may be guided past the sight opening 9 in the front wall of the casing, the band is passed over idle rolls mounted within the casing at the forward portion thereof and above and below the said sight opening 9. Each of these rolls is indicated in general by the numeral 61 and each comprises a core 62 over which the stretch of the band is passed. The core 62 is provided at one end with a head 63 having a cylindrical socket 64 receiving the end of a stub shaft 65 fixed upon the inner face of the end wall of the casing, the shafts 65 rotatably supporting the corresponding ends of the respective idle rolls 61. The core of each roll is provided at its opposite end with a head 66 which is also formed with a cylindrical socket indicated by the numeral 67 and receiving the cylindrical end 68 of a journal 69 which is threaded, as indicated by the numeral 70, and thus secured upon the inner face of the wall 5 of the casing. Each journal 70 is provided with a squared outer end 73 for the application of a wrench, and a jamb nut 74 is fitted onto each journal and may be tightened to bear against the outer face of the wall 5 so as to lock the journal when it has been properly adjusted. It will now be evident that by adjusting the journals 70 their ends 68 may be caused to seat in the sockets 67 so as to rotatably support the adjacent ends of the corresponding idle rolls 61, the opposite ends of the rolls being supported in the manner heretofore described. It will furthermore be evident that when it becomes necessary to remove the display band for the substitution of another, the idle rolls 61 may be dismounted by backwardly threading or adjusting the journals 70 through the openings 71 until their ends 68 have been withdrawn'from engagement in the sockets 67 whereupon the rolls may be dropped and their opposite ends disengaged from the shafts 65.

For a purpose to be presently described a block 75 of insulating material is secured upon the inner face of the end wall 5 of the casing in relatively close proximity to the bearing for the shaft 38 and carries a pair of spaced contact points 76, and a contact blade 77 is fixed upon the pinion 42 in any suitable manner and in position to sweep past and in contact with the contact points 76 as the pinion rotates.

As a means for holding the gears 30 against rotation and thus arresting the travel of the display band under proper conditions, there is provided a detent arm 78 which is pivotally mounted, as at 79, upon the under side of the top 2 of the casing and is provided at its free end with a tooth 80 designed to rest in engagement with the upper one of the gears 30 for the purpose stated. An electromagnet 81 is also mounted upon the top 2 of the casing and is so positioned that when energized it will attract the detent 7 8 and lift the same, in the manner shown in Fig. 5, so as to cause the tooth 80 to clear the teeth of the gear 30.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings which illustrates diagrammatically the electric circuits established in connection with the apparatus, the numeral 82 indicates a source of current supply which may for example be the source from which current is supplied to the motors of the car within which the indicator is arranged. Conductor wires 83 and 84 lead from the source of supply 82 to the electric motor 50 heretofore referred to, and a switch 85 of any suitable type is interposed in the wire 84 and is designed to be controlled by the motorman or conductor of the car at intervals for the purpose of opening and closing the motor circuit and thus controlling the travel of the display band 11. Conductor wires 86 are electrically connected with the wires 83 and 84 so that when the switch 85 is closed current will pass also through the electro-magnet 81 and thus maintain the detent arm 78 elevated clear of the upper gear 80 so long as the motor 50 is operating and the said switch is closed. Conductor wires 87 are connected with the contact points 76 and constitute a part of a shunt circuit in which is interposed an electric bell or other signal 88 and a suitable resistance 89 designed to step down the cur rent to suit the nature of the said signal 88.

\Vhen the display band is to be advanced so as to change the name of the street or station displayed, the switch 85 is closed whereupon thedetent arm 78 will be elevated through energization of the electromagnet 81, and the motor 50 will be set in operation so as to impart travelto the sign band in one direction or the other depending upon the position of the lever 55. As the pinion 42 rotates and as the band is advanced so as to bring a new name into position opposite the sight opening 9, the contact 87 will sweep past and in contact with the points 76 thus electrically bridging the same and closing the shunt circuit through the bell 88. The ringing of this bell gives warning to theattendant that the display band has been advanced a proper distance to bring the new street or' station name into display position and that the time has arrived for him to again open the switch 85.

It will be evident that as the band is wound upon one of the spools 13, the diameter of. said spool will be gradually increased, and if it were not for the provision of the pawls 32 and ratchet notches 81, the travel of the band would be arrested or it would be drawn so taut as to cause injury thereto. By providing the pawl and ratchet connection however the spoolfrom which the band is being unwound may rotate independently of therespective gear 30 and thus the band will at all times be evenly unwound and taken up by one or the other of the said spools, in the operationof the indicator. In order that the. spools may be prevented from rotating too freely, a friction brake is preferably provided in connection with the head 16 of each'spool 13 andcomprises a band 90 which is provided with anattaching bracket 91 at one end secured to the wall 6 of the casing indicator and extending about the flange 28' of the cap plate for the respective spool head, an

adjusting or tensioning screw 92 being fitted through the other end of the band 90 and through the attaching bracket 91 and having threaded thereon a wing nut 93 bearing against the said bracket 91. h It will now be evident-that by adjusting the nuts 93 the bands 90 may be caused to suitably frictionally bind the heads of the respective spools 13 and thus suitably retard the rotative movement of the spools.

Having thus described the invention, what .is claimed as new is:

1. In a mechanlsm of the classdescribed, storage spools mounted for rotation, a'd1splay band wound thereon, gears connected with the spools, ashaft, a gear carried by the shaft and meshing with the first-.mentioned gears, a second gear carried by the said shaft, a shaft mounted counter to *the first-mentioned shaft, means for driving the last-mentioned shaft, spaced gears upon the lastmentioned shaft rotatable therewith and slidable thereon, a shiftable member, and spaced yokesfixed with relation to the shift able member and coacting with the lastmentioned gears to shift the same into and out of mesh with the third-mentioned gear.

2. In mechanism of the class described, storage spools mounted for rotation, a display band wound thereon, gears connected with the spools, a shaft, a gear carried by the shaft and meshing with the first-mentioned gears, a second gear carried by the said shaft, a shaft mounted counter to the first-mentioned shaft, an electricmotor for driving the last-mentioned shaft, spaced gears upon the last-mentioned shaft rotatable therewith and slidable thereon, means for selectively bringing the gears into mesh with the third-mentioned gear, a detent coacting with one of the'first-mentioned gears, and an electro-magnet in the motor circuit and in juxtaposition to the detent to attract the same and render the detent inactive when the circuit is closed through the motor and through the said magnet. p

3. In-mechanism of the class described, storage spools mounted for rotation, a, display band wound thereon, gears connected with the spools, a shaft,j'a gear carried by the shaft and meshing with the first-mentioned gears, a second gear carried by the said shaft, a shaft mounted counter to the first-mentioned shaft, an electric motor for driving the last-mentioned shaft, spaced gears upon the last-mentioned shaft rotata-. ble therewith and slidable thereon, means for selectively bringing the gearsinto mesh with the third-mentioned gear, a detent coacting with one of the first-mentionedgears, an electro-inagnet in the motor circuit and in juxtaposition to the detent to attract the same and render the detent inactive when the circuit is closed through the motor and through the said magnet, a signal in said circuit, contacts in circuit with the signal,

and a contact carried by, the second-mentioned gear and bridging the first-mentioned contact in the rotation of the said gear. f

4. In mechanism of the class described, a casing, stub shafts upon one wall of the casing within the same, gears having hubs rotatably fitting the shafts andprovided with journal portions, storage spools having bearing sockets at their. ends receiving the j ournal portions of the gears, means'connecting the gears and spools for rotation in unison in one direction and permitting independent rotation in the other direction, means for rotating the said gears, and means upon the opposite wall of the casing demountably supporting the opposite ends of the said storage spools.

5. In mechanism of the class described, a casing, stub shafts upon one wall of the easing within the same, gears having hubs rotatably fitting the shafts and provided with journal portions, storage spools having hearin sockets at their ends receiving the jourmi portions of the gears, means connecting the gears and spools for rotation in unison in one direction and permitting independent rotation in the other direction, means for rotating the said gears, means upon the opposite Wall of the casing demountably supporting the opposite ends of the said storage spools, and comprising spindles removably fitted through the said Wall of the casing and each provided with a radial arm having a notch, a threaded stud upon the Wall of the casing engageable in the notch of the respective arm, and a nut threaded onto the said stud and binding the arm.

In testimony whereof I afiix m signature.

JAMES J. REI [1,. 8. 

